IC
RESTRICTED
PAO(C) 6/3571/91
US/Hong Kong Policy Act 1992 (The McConnell Bill)
The US/Hong Kong Policy Act 1992, known generally as the McConnell Bill, is likely to become law soon.
1.
2.
The Chinese have attacked the Bill unremittingly since Senator McConnell introduced it. They have also sought to persuade the UK to attack it (without success). They regard it as a prime example of "the internationalisation of the
Hong Kong question".
3.
The reporting provisions attracted their particular ire. The original Bill called for regular reports to the Congress on the implementation of the Joint Declaration. The
Chinese argued that the JD was a matter entirely between China
and the UK. Senator McConnell has now amended these
provisions. The Act as passed is likely to require the Administration to report at 18 month intervals to the Congress on a number of aspects of US relations with Hong Kong. However the Administration will also be required to report on the development of democratic institutions in Hong Kong; and on the nature and extent of Hong Kong's participation in multilateral
fora.
4.
We have studiously remained out of this US/China dispute. In private we have told the Chinese that they should not make too much of a fuss about the Bill, and that we are not
prepared to make negative public statements on it, not least because this could damage the chances of retaining MFN status
for China.
RESTRICTED